Take Heart!

"And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way."

Numbers 21:4

How true it is, that God's ways are not our ways!  The way God often uses is the way that is inefficient, long, difficult, and indirect.  Instead of bringing us directly to His desired end, He leads us on the most roundabout course.  The children of Israel were not strangers to this feeling.  They reached the very doorstep of the Promised Land and were turned back because of their unbelief.  Even with the presence of God leading the people, they often had to circumvent land they would have preferred to pass through.  They were continually having to leave the well-worn track and trail blaze.  Having to go the "hard way," the people were discouraged.  Their souls were "much discouraged because of the way."

There is no shortage of trials and difficulties we experience during our lives which give reason for discouragement.  The children of Israel thought that following God would be easy, but it wasn't.  It was hard because it was a walk of faith.  God tested and challenged the faith of His people, leading them through wilderness filled with enemies.  They became disillusioned because their focus was on the difficulty of the path and forming judgments rather than trusting looking to God for sufficiency.  As long as they questioned God's plan and direction, they found no rest or peace.  For those who have been born again, the same thing can be true.  We know in theory that "God is on the throne," but when the way becomes hard we can become discouraged.  Discouragement comes when we recognise our inability, frailty, and failures and do not believe God will redeem our circumstances for good.  Discouragement springs from a selfish perspective.

We can take heart even in disheartening circumstances when we look to God and His promises.  When Paul was tempest tossed, starving after eating nothing for two weeks, with plots of violence upon his life by guards, and no hope for survival in his strength, he took heart in what God told him.  Paul bravely addressed the soldiers, crew, and fellow prisoners in Acts 27:22-26:  "And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. ²³ For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, ²⁴ saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' ²⁵ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. ²⁶ However, we must run aground on a certain island."  God had a plan that involved mortal danger, starvation, storms, huge financial loss, even running aground and being shipwrecked!  In the end, God would deliver all the soldiers, crew, and prisoners from their stricken vessel.  God used this situation to strengthen Paul's faith in the midst of a horrible ordeal and glorify His name.  The word God spoke to Paul came to pass, and the everlasting Word He has spoken to us will no doubt all come to pass.

In Luke 18, Jesus told the Parable of the Unjust Judge to teach people to pray and not lose heart.  This is something we must learn because it is not our natural tendency!  I cannot convey this important lesson better than Paul illustrated in 2 Corinthians 4:7-18:  "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-- ¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So then death is working in us, but life in you. ¹³ And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, "I believed and therefore I spoke," we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. ¹⁵ For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. ¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

If we look upon our trials or difficulties as man sees, we will lose heart.  Even as Christians filled with the indwelling Spirit of God we will faint and be discouraged unless our inward man is renewed by faith in God's Word day by day.  We are unwise to drift on the undercurrents of discouragement.  This will always cause us to veer far off course and lose sight of God and the ultimate destination He desires for us:  that we would be transformed, refined, and fashioned into the image of Jesus Christ!  Dig in those oars and pull!  PULL!  Invite God's Word to establish your proper course, even your thoughts, attitudes, and desires.  Let the mind which was in Christ be also in you, who humbled Himself and was made of no reputation.  Stay on course, keep the faith, and finish with joy.  God can bring encouragement and strength even from disheartening circumstances.  Won't you trust Him today?

Home With Him

In a few days, I will be taking a flight from Sydney to Los Angeles.  As the day of my departure draws nigh, the occasional sound of a plane in the distance reminds me of that fact.  It has been two years since my last visit to the United States.  It's a strange thing to have lived in the San Diego for most of my life but to feel like a stranger heading back.  Don't get me wrong:  I know most of the streets, freeways, suburbs quite well.  By God's grace I should be able to recognise family and friends, though I probably won't remember all the names I once did.  I am coming back to people who have changed, and I have changed too - hopefully for the better and wiser!

I was born in San Diego, but San Diego is no longer my home.  This was settled even before I left San Diego for Sydney in 2010.  God brought my heart to Australia long before my family came or our stuff arrived in a container.  Sydney is where I currently reside, yet technically it is not my home either.  Though ultimately my home is in heaven, God has provided a way for me to always be home.  Jesus says in John 14:23, "Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him."  Often we think of "home" as a fixed point on the earth, yet God comes to those who love Him and makes His home with us wherever we are!  The Holy Spirit takes up residence in the heart of every believer.  Jesus is called "Immanuel," meaning "God with us."  We will never be "home" - we will never find true rest - until we enter into a relationship built upon the truth of God's Word.

They say "Home is where the heart is" and there is truth in this cliche, though perhaps not in the way intended.  More important than having a house for my body is that God makes His home with me.  Whether I travel far or stay near, if I live or die, God and I will be together forever.  This is a comforting thought not only for me, but for my family that I will be leaving behind.  I will be leaving for a while, but God will never leave or forsake them.  Praise God for the confidence, peace, and rest we find in Him! 

Sanctify the LORD

This morning I found the passage when Moses struck the rock at Meribah most compelling.  When the people complained about the lack of water, Moses wisely sought the LORD.  God told him to speak to the rock and water would flow from it and supply water for all Israel.  Understandably annoyed by the complaints and murmuring of the people, the frustration of Moses was evident:  "Hear, you rebels!  Must we fetch you water out of this rock?"  Instead of speaking to the rock according to God's command, Moses struck the rock twice and water issued forth.  The people were glad to have water, but God was not pleased with Moses and Aaron.

Now I have often heard people say the sin of Moses was the fact he "misrepresented God."  I am sure Moses was guilty of this infraction as all people are, even those who have been called to lead in various church ministry.  But that is not the sin God cited.  Numbers 20:12 makes it clear:  "Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them."  The sin of Moses and Aaron was primarily unbelief, and unbelief leads to all manner of sin.  A little background is after the rebellion of Korah, the staff of Aaron budded to prove that God had indeed placed them in leadership over His people.  Numbers 17:10-11 reads, "And the LORD said to Moses, "Bring Aaron's rod back before the Testimony, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, that you may put their complaints away from Me, lest they die." ¹¹ Thus did Moses; just as the LORD had commanded him, so he did."

Moses was to hold this rod as a testimony against the rebels, but the words and actions of Moses did not not make God holy or sanctified in the eyes of the people when he struck the rock as he had previously (Ex. 17:6).  The credit for this deed could have been attributed to the power of the rod or the favour Moses had in the sight of God.  For their sin, God disciplined Moses and Aaron by refusing them entrance to the land of promise.  The people did not enter because of unbelief, and that was the sin of Moses and Aaron as well.  They trusted God and relied upon Him often, but to whom much is given much is required.  They paid a heavy price for their unbelief, though they had faith to trust God when most would faint.

Let us believe.  All is possible to those who trust in God.  May we remember to sanctify God in our hearts and display His power for His glory with meekness and grace.  1 Peter 3:14-15 reads, "But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. ¹⁵ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear..."  We do not speak our wisdom, nor can we generate living waters from our own merit.  All we have and all we can offer is all God has given us by His grace.  As I am sanctified, may He be sanctified in me!

Things New and Old

In our natural state we cannot discern spiritual truths.  When we are born again by grace through faith and receive the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can become Christian "yes" men.  We read the Bible and nod our heads in approval, but we can fail to see that the radical precepts and truths of scripture have yet to be actually lived out in our lives.  We know the truth in a superficial and theoretical sense, but there has not been implementation.  The things we agree with have not been put into practice, or we have put the scripture into practice with rigid inflexibility.  Like a child dancing in a circle with his hobby horse, we can come to a point when we do not seek or even desire further transformation according to God's Word.  We have established beliefs through which all scripture is filtered, and even God cannot change our minds.  Instead of allowing scripture to challenge us to see things in a new light, we can become stuck in a rut A.W. Tozer called "a circular grave."

How am I able to speak of such things?  I have experienced this condition myself!  I remember times of refinement when I would ask God earnestly, "You want me to give that up?  You want me to change this too?  How much more of my life do I need to give up?"  He simply said, "All of it."  See, I knew that's what He would say.  Even though I knew it is my reasonable service to commit my beliefs, thoughts, lifestyle, career, wife, and children to His control, I didn't feel like doing it.  I was more concerned about what I was giving up than what God had already given!  My perspective was all wrong.  I came to this conclusion through reading the scriptures and the Holy Spirit opening my eyes and convicting me of my sin.  It may be better said this conclusion was given to me by God, and it took me quite a while to agree with Him.  I am far from perfect, but He has established the fact that I am the one who needs to change.  Change will be required in me until I put off this body of flesh and am glorified in the presence of God.  God's Word should confront my flesh, challenge my mind, and reform me until the day I die.  I will be reading and studying the scriptures for eternity and never learn all.

God reiterated this to me when I read a passage in Matthew.  In context, Jesus spoke parable after parable to His disciples.  I almost laughed when I read Matthew 13:51:  "Jesus said to them, "Have you understood all these things?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord."  How hilarious are Christ's disciples?  They thought they understood everything when they didn't even grasp the basics!  Instead of pointing out their great delusions, Jesus continued in Matthew 13:52:  "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."  Scribes were trained in how to rightly handle the Word of God.  They were men revered for their mastery of scriptural texts, able to teach and interpret the law, and copy it precisely according to Jewish tradition.  The role of the scribes was illustrated in Nehemiah 8:8: "So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading."  Because Christians have the Spirit of God living within us, we have received instruction from God concerning God and His kingdom.

Once we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, He takes up residence within each believer and guides us into all truth.  God has provided a great treasury of knowledge and wisdom in the Bible of far greater value than a million universes.  Through God's Word we can know God, learn of His love, justice, and character, what He requires of us, and how to live in the way that pleases Him.  The old truths of God's Word should never lose their lustre, for God has many new things to teach us through them.  Some passages are new to us, while other passages are very familiar.  God has an infinite amount of new things to teach us and to apply personally from old, well-trod passages.  God can apply an old passage in a new way without forsaking the truth.  A householder may know his stock very well, but as he digs through some old boxes while organising he will find many useful things he had forgotten or misplaced.  Both the Old and New Testaments are relevant, practical, and useful to aid us in knowing God, leading others to Him, and walking righteously.

When we think we have mastery of the scriptures, we have begun to be entrenched in our own thoughts.  Our God is the One who makes all things new.  He wants to make us new daily as He renews our minds and strength through the scriptures.  If we think we know all, then we know nothing as we ought to know.  Speaking for myself, my theology has changed over the last few years, and I trust years from now it will be radically different - different not because God has changed or I am bold to take liberties to wrest scriptures according to my opinions - but because God has changed me!  If I am willing, humbled by my great lack, He will open my eyes and mind to understand truth I cannot now comprehend.  Unless we are born again and renewed, we will not progress.  We are to called to put off the old man, be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and put on the new man that we might walk in newness of life (Eph. 4:20-24).  The world looks at progress this way:  "Out with the old, and in with the new!"  Yet scripture should never become old to us.  The only way we will be renewed is if our lives are consciously brought into obedience to the scriptures in faith.  Out of His treasury He provides things new and old!